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In 2015, creative and campaigner Gustav Metzger initiated one of his final significant endeavors. Recognized for creating auto-destructive art, Metzger had spent a lifetime to addressing human struggles from nuclear disarmament to ethical eating. Via a concise video message, he made a plea for a global day of action to honor the environment.

“I call upon you for your involvement in this global appeal for a day of action to reflect on the environment on November 4th, 2015,” he declared, encouraging cultural workers to oppose the steady eradication of living beings. “Our task is to help the public recall of the diversity and intricacy in nature … and by doing so creativity will explore domains that are naturally imaginative.”

The Creation of Environmental Reflection

Thus the Nature Remembrance initiative was born, a day when artists across the country developed works to the unfolding climate catastrophe. One of the curators, who cared for Metzger in his last days, notes his drive for action. “I sensed a great sense of urgency for him at the final chapter,” she says. “I just said – we must act now. No need to pause for financial support or for anyone to approve this. We should proceed.”

Ten Years On

Ten years later, Remember Nature may not have sparked the widespread change across the arts that Metzger had envisioned, but supporters think its legacy can still be seen in initiatives like Culture Declares and climate activism networks, as well as in how creatives consider the sustainability of their work. That’s why she is reviving it to mark its 10-year anniversary. Included in the 18 lead artists taking part currently are Cornelia Parker and other notable figures. They have all created visual art, made video appeals, and produced installations set to be revealed on the fourth of November next year.

Cultivating Awareness

Interviewing the artist, she is on site in the countryside, assisting with planting apple trees that will grow to form a coiled garden. Collaborating with schoolchildren, her project is somewhat artistic and somewhat instructive. As she explains, the design and cultivation sessions have already included learning about measurements (measuring out the planting intervals), science (studying the apple’s DNA), and origins (tracing the backgrounds of how various cultivars arrived in Britain).

Several the apples were picked because they’ve got amusing labels such as the Bloody Butcher. We have one apple that releases red juice

“A lot of the apples were selected because they’ve got funny names such as the Duck’s Bill,” she explains. “We have one apple that produces scarlet-colored sap. Every one carries histories attached. The ancient variety was imported by the Romans. The Flower of Kent is the apple that descended from a tree and hit Isaac Newton’s head.”

The artist aimed the children to be more consciously engaged of nature and the influence we have over it. “In their experience, apples were just things you get at a supermarket, so I was urging them, next time they were out, to look on the bag and see their names and the source. Hopefully it says Kent!”

Cultural Projects Nationwide

Within the city, a participant’s project on disappearance will engage visitors exploring Tate Modern on a mission to find the frozen formations that have been disappeared in recent years. Each glacier will be illustrated on the exhibition spaces using special pens. When located, a chime will sound and a reading will be performed to remember that individual formation.

Elsewhere, up in Barrow-in-Furness, a creative will be putting on a open display about our alienation from the environment, as well as hosting a shared meal, made using sustainable ingredients. Over in Newcastle, Uta Kögelsberger is broadcasting her musical project, in which local singers embark on a mission to use music to heal flora in a local park.

Children’s Voices

Like Gallaccio, another participant will be engaging schoolchildren – on the actual event she is aiming to decorate Cambridge’s Kettle’s Yard in kids’ letters and drawings that express their hopes and fears for the years ahead. “Children’s words and images are powerful because they’re not as inhibited as mature perspectives,” she says in her recorded message. “What children have to offer to the world is something distinctive and perhaps it can stimulate a awareness of obligation from us all. Kids are unbiased. They have concerns for tomorrow. But let’s not make it about fear – it should be about optimism and our responsibility that they get a future.”

Tributes and Thoughts

A participant’s work also appeals to children. Drawing on past experience, his avian project involves drawing birds and then performing as birds – and for Remember Nature day he is planning to tackle a local symbol. He is also organizing a itinerant journey of the city, visiting various sites that have been part of his Pansy Project over the last two decades. That ongoing series began when he faced several events of prejudice on a one occasion. To counter this, Harfleet decided to place a bloom at the location of every incident and photograph it – the project has since spiralled to incorporate experiences experienced by other people across the world. “I leave the pansies there but they fade quickly,” says Harfleet. “Apparently birds consume them, so they’re a very temporary memorial.”

He picked the pansy not just for the obvious reason – it has long been a term of homophobic abuse – but also because its etymology comes from the French verb, penser, to think. “It was linked to a man who is thoughtful, and that, of course, is a negative trait,” he says.

The project on Remember Nature day is to place blooms at new locations and also renew the tributes in places he has honored before, all the while conversing with those on the walking tour about the events and his personal experiences. “I’ve recorded quite a few since I last planted,” he says sadly.

Progressing Optimistically

Harfleet hopes his work – and